Winchester is a small town of 385 in Kansas, with a median household income of $35,417
and a 5.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Winchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Winchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Winchester city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.9
Winchester's overall cost of living index is 85.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Winchester costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Winchester, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$80,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$831
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,417
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Winchester's violent crime rate is 215.3 per 100,000 residents
— 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
215.3 /100k
Property Crime
840.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Winchester is served primarily by Jefferson County North.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Winchester, KS
National Avg
School District
Jefferson County North
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Winchester sees average highs of 38.1°F in January
and 89.9°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.4 inches of snow per year.
Winchester's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Winchester roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $80,300 and median rent is $831/month.
Winchester's violent crime rate is 215.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 840.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Winchester are operated by Jefferson County North.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Winchester, KS has a population of 385, a median household income of $35,417, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Winchester averages 38.1°F in January and 89.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 16.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Winchester, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66097.
The population of Winchester, Kansas is 385 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Winchester: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $80,300, median household income $35,417, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Winchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
